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Finnish Success in F1

Finnish Success in F1

The Nordic country may have a population of about five and a half million people, but that has not stopped them producing three world champions and - following Valtteri Bottas' win on 30 April - no fewer than five race winners. Finland has done incredibly well to produce a decent amount of successful Formula 1 drivers considering the size of their talent pool relative to other countries. In fact, they boast more F1 world champions per capita than any other country.

Kimi Raikkonen famously arrived in F1 amid much scrutiny over his credentials, being awarded a superlicence despite having contested just 23 open-seater races. Sixteen years later and still hugely relevant in F1, it's fair to say Raikkonen has answered his doubters. Twenty wins and one world title in 2007 is perhaps scant return on his promise, but Raikkonen nevertheless retains cult status in the sport.

So, what makes the Finnish drivers so good?

Who better to ask than the straight-talking Raikkonen. Asked what makes Finnish drivers so good, he once replied: "Our roads and long winters. "You really have to be a good driver to survive in Finland. It is always slippery and bumpy."

That just might be the secret that has helped Valtteri Bottas, Mika Hakkinen, Heikki Kovalainen, JJ Lehto, Kimi Raikkonen, Keke Rosberg, and Mika Salo to become legends in motorsport.